1الانسان مولود المرأة قليل الايام وشبعان تعبا.
1Man, born of woman! Of few days, and full of trouble!
2يخرج كالزهر ثم ينحسم ويبرح كالظل ولا يقف.
2As a flower he hath gone forth, and is cut off, And he fleeth as a shadow and standeth not.
3فعلى مثل هذا حدقت عينيك واياي احضرت الى المحاكمة معك.
3Also — on this Thou hast opened Thine eyes, And dost bring me into judgment with Thee.
4من يخرج الطاهر من النجس. لا احد.
4Who giveth a clean thing out of an unclean? not one.
5ان كانت ايامه محدودة وعدد اشهره عندك وقد عينت اجله فلا يتجاوزه
5If determined are his days, The number of his months [are] with Thee, His limit Thou hast made, And he passeth not over;
6فاقصر عنه ليسترح الى ان يسرّ كالاجير بانتهاء يومه
6Look away from off him that he may cease, Till he enjoy as an hireling his day.
7لان للشجرة رجاء. ان قطعت تخلف ايضا ولا تعدم خراعيبها.
7For there is of a tree hope, if it be cut down, That again it doth change, That its tender branch doth not cease.
8ولو قدم في الارض اصلها ومات في التراب جذعها
8If its root becometh old in the earth, And its stem doth die in the dust,
9فمن رائحة الماء تفرخ وتنبت فروعا كالغرس.
9From the fragrance of water it doth flourish, And hath made a crop as a plant.
10اما الرجل فيموت ويبلى. الانسان يسلم الروح فاين هو.
10And a man dieth, and becometh weak, And man expireth, and where [is] he?
11قد تنفد المياه من البحرة والنهر ينشف ويجف
11Waters have gone away from a sea, And a river becometh waste and dry.
12والانسان يضطجع ولا يقوم. لا يستيقظون حتى لا تبقى السموات ولا ينتبهون من نومهم
12And man hath lain down, and riseth not, Till the wearing out of the heavens they awake not, Nor are roused from their sleep.
13ليتك تواريني في الهاوية وتخفيني الى ان ينصرف غضبك وتعيّن لي اجلا فتذكرني.
13O that in Sheol Thou wouldst conceal me, Hide me till the turning of Thine anger, Set for me a limit, and remember me.
14ان مات رجل أفيحيا. كل ايام جهادي اصبر الى ان يأتي بدلي.
14If a man dieth — doth he revive? All days of my warfare I wait, till my change come.
15تدعو فانا اجيبك. تشتاق الى عمل يدك.
15Thou dost call, and I — I answer Thee; To the work of Thy hands Thou hast desire.
16اما الآن فتحصي خطواتي. ألا تحافظ على خطيتي.
16But now, my steps Thou numberest, Thou dost not watch over my sin.
17معصيتي مختوم عليها في صرّة وتلفّق عليّ فوق اثمي
17Sealed up in a bag [is] my transgression, And Thou sewest up mine iniquity.
18ان الجبل الساقط ينتثر والصخر يزحزح من مكانه.
18And yet, a falling mountain wasteth away, And a rock is removed from its place.
19الحجارة تبليها المياه وتجرف سيولها تراب الارض. وكذلك انت تبيد رجاء الانسان.
19Stones have waters worn away, Their outpourings wash away the dust of earth, And the hope of man Thou hast destroyed.
20تتجبر عليه ابدا فيذهب. تغير وجهه وتطرده.
20Thou prevailest [over] him for ever, and he goeth, He is changing his countenance, And Thou sendest him away.
21يكرم بنوه ولا يعلم او يصغرون ولا يفهم بهم.
21Honoured are his sons, and he knoweth not; And they are little, and he attendeth not to them.
22انما على ذاته يتوجع لحمه وعلى ذاتها تنوح نفسه
22Only — his flesh for him is pained, And his soul for him doth mourn.`